Bar Sued By Drunk Driving Victim's Family

The parents of a Lexington man say they want to send a clear message to everyone they say played a role in the death of a man who was hit and killed by a drunk driver.

The wrongful death lawsuit claims the owners of Patchen Pub disregarded the law when they allowed Timothy Geneve to get drunk inside the bar and jump in his car.

Charles Johnson's parents filed the lawsuit on behalf of their son. Last August a car hit and killed Johnson while he was standing in the front yard of his sister's home. Police arrested Timothy Geneve for driving drunk. Police first charged Geneve with murder but he later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and is serving 10 years in prison.

"They feel the young man who killed their son was not punished correctly. They feel there needs to be a message to bar owner and drunk drivers," says the Johnson's attorney, Thomas Miller.

"Bar owners who serve individuals who are or near intoxicated have a responsibly to the public," says Miller.

The suit points blame at Patchen Pub. It says the owners "served, sold and made available intoxicating beverages" to Geneve which he consumed. It goes on to say Patchen Pub was "careless, negligent, and reckless because they knew or should have known that Geneve was already intoxicated at the time of each serving."

The wrongful death suit also names Timothy Geneve and his father Robert. Timothy Geneve was driving his father's car when crashed killing Johnson. The suit says Robert Gevene loaned his car to his son knowing he was incompetent to operate it.

The owners of the Patchen Pub say they can't comment because they haven't been served the lawsuit yet.

The Johnson's attorney, Thomas Miller say, " They feel the young man who killed their son was not punished correctly. They feel there needs to be a message to bar owner and drunk drivers."

"Bar owners who serve individuals who are or near intoxicated have a responsibly to the public," says Miller.

This suit points blame at Patchen Pub. It says, " the owners served, sold and made available intoxicating beverages" to Geneve which he consumed. It goes on to say Patchen Pub was "careless, negligent, and reckless because they knew or should have known that Geneve was already intoxicated at the time of each serving."

The wrongful death suit also names Timothy Geneve and his father, Robert. Timothy Geneve was driving his father's car when he crashed, killing Johnson. The suit says Robert Gevene loaned his car to his son knowing he was incompetent to operate it.

The owners of the Patchen Pub say they can't comment because they haven't been served the lawsuit yet.

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